More about Hemel Hempstead

Hemel Hempstead is the largest settlement in the borough, and has a combination of excellent access to infrastructure, jobs and the countryside. It is the borough's focus for key services and facilities including employment, shopping, health and leisure. 

The town is situated within close proximity of London, is served by two mainline railway stations, and has good access to major roads such as the M1 and A414. Hemel Hempstead also benefits from being within close proximity to London Luton Airport. 

In March 2019, Hemel Hempstead was awarded “Garden Town” status.

Much of our planned approach to growth and change in Hemel Hempstead will be guided by the Hemel Garden Communities (HGC) programme. It seeks to transform and grow the town. The programme provides a delivery strategy for Hemel Hempstead and the proposed locations for development across two administrative areas, our own and St Albans City and District Council (SADC), which together make up HGC.

Hemel Garden Communities is a joint project, which involves Dacorum Borough Council, St Albans City and District Council, Hertfordshire County Council, Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, Hertfordshire Innovation Quarter, Homes England, The Crown Estate and other key landowners.

The Hemel Garden Communities proposal has been recognised by the Government, which awarded Hemel Hempstead 'Garden Town' status and a grant in 2019.

Overall, the project proposes a highly sustainable urban expansion to the east and north of Hemel Hempstead. The proposals will bring around 11,000 new homes in total. It is also proposed to deliver 10,000 new jobs and a range of other facilities including green spaces, shops, schools, community facilities, healthcare and improved walking, cycle and public transport routes, to be delivered up to 2050.

You can find out more by visiting the Hemel Garden Communities website. 

5,500 of the new homes proposed are in the neighbouring St Albans council area - you can read their proposals in their draft Local Plan here.

Hemel Hempstead will continue to be the main focus for growth in the borough given its size and the wealth of key services and facilities available. We want to ensure that the Hemel Garden Communities programme acts as a major catalyst for the wider transformation of Hemel Hempstead.

Changes to the plan period and continuing progress with the Hemel Garden Communities programme means that we are now able to capture more housing delivery at North Hemel Hempstead and we propose bringing forward both phase 1 and phase 2 as a combined allocation of 2500 homes. The total number of homes that will be delivered in the area up to 2050 remains the same at 5,500 homes.

Hemel Hempstead provides much greater opportunities for a mix of scales of housing on brownfield sites that have better access to local facilities and sustainable travel choices. We have undertaken further work to assess the potential of Hemel Hempstead Town Centre and the Two Waters Opportunity Area and have identified new sites at Riverside and Apsley, increasing the total number of homes proposed in these areas:  

• An additional 500 homes identified in the town centre (up from 1,250 to 1,750 homes); and 
• A further 450 homes identified in the Two Waters and Apsley area (up from 1,550 to 2,000 homes).

We will continue to protect Maylands Business Park as an employment area, supported by an updated Masterplan.